Plans underway to advance plant based medicine research

8:05 am, Sat August 24, 2019

Minister of Industry and Agriculture Audley Shaw, says there are plans to establish a centre in Jamaica to further advance plant-based medicine research.

Mr. Shaw told JIS News that a programme of cooperation involving Jamaican scientist and businessman, Dr. Henry Lowe; Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of National Hero, Marcus Garvey; and Director at Harvard University Medical School in the US, Dr. Wilfred Ngwa, is being finalised for the associate research centre's establishment.

Mr. Shaw noted that of just over 100 plants which are known and used for medicines, 51 are indigenous to Jamaica.

He highlighted that Dr. Lowe and others have developed plant-based medicines in Jamaica that are now world renowned.

They are presently submitting more applications for further development of additional plant-based medicines to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States